REFLECTIONS ON THE SUNDAY SERMON
Linda Waltersdorf Cobourn, EdD
March 23, 2025
Pastor Amy Peters, Speaker
WHERE JESUS IS PRESENT
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Matthew 26:26
“This is a very special time,” Sister Veronica reminded us as we entered the church, a single file of children dressed in white dresses or suits. “Your First Communion is the only time that Jesus Himself will come into your heart. Every other communion will be the reminder of this time.”
We all nodded solemnly and headed towards the altar, rosary beads draped over our prayerful hands in imitation of the statue of the Blessed Virgin.
Following my brother to our assigned pews, I caught sight of my parents, smiling as their children prepared, for the first time, to receive the Eucharist. The weeks of catechism class had imbued me with awe for this special moment in my life, but Sister Veronica’s words concerned me.
This was the ONLY TIME Jesus would come into my heart? Why hadn’t I been told this sooner? How could I possibly keep Him in my heart? I wanted more of Jesus, not just a once-in-a-lifetime meeting.
My seven-year-old self did not need to worry; while Sister Veronica had intended to remind us of the solemnity of the occasion, she had somehow missed what I know as an adult to be true:
Jesus is present everywhere.
The sacrament of Holy Communion was instituted by Jesus as He ate the Passover Supper with His Disciples; the broken bread was a symbol of the Body He sacrificed for us; the wine was a symbol of the Blood spilled for us. And while Holy Communion serves, as Sister Veronica stated, as a reminder of the sacrifices made and a “bit of Heaven,” it is not the only time we are invited into the presence of Christ.
He is in the morning sunrise. He is in the chirping of the birds. He is in the person sitting next to you. He is in all who call Him Savior. He is in Atonement Methodist Church.
John Wesley’s approach to Holy Communion is, as Pastor Amy reminded us on Sunday, threefold:
- Christ is PRESENT in the act of Holy Communion. This is illustrated in Charles Wesley’s hymn:
This is the richest legacy
Thou hast on man bestowed,
Here chiefly, Lord, we feed on thee,
And drink thy precious blood.
Communion is the “grand channel” of God’s grace to us.
- Revival and Communion go hand in hand. Our lives are transformed by the acceptance of the Bread and Wine, the Body and Blood.
- Holy Communion is pastoral, meaning it focuses on our spiritual growth; it is inclusive and caring.
We are entering a time of change at Atonement. As Pastor Amy retires and moves onto other callings, we need to remember what God has started here in Claymont. We need to base our continued trust in God that he will finish what he has started. He has told has already told what we are to do:
Care for another.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:1
Psalm 118 is the final song sung at the traditional Passover meal. Its verses remind us that God is with us always and will not let us stumble or fall. No matter what the future holds for us, God will continue to channel his grace to us. As we enter into a new season at Atonement, let’s reflect on the last two verses of Psalm 118.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
And ask God how you can be a channel of his grace to others.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR.
Everyone has a “God story” to tell! Please talk to me about sharing yours. If you’ve enjoyed reading this and would like to read more about my own faith walk, please join my free blog at:lindaca1.substack.com
